FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1507

                         C 314 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Penalizing owners of abandoned, unauthorized, or junk vehicles.

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Zellinsky, Ballard, Chappell, Van Luven, R. Johnson, Campbell, R. Meyers, Springer and Sheldon),

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  An unauthorized vehicle is a vehicle which is in violation of the statutory time limits for parking on a specific type of property.  A registered tow truck operator who has complied with all impoundment and notification laws has a lien upon a vehicle for the towing and storage charges incurred.

In addition to the lien, a registered tow truck operator has a deficiency claim against the registered owner of the vehicle for towing and storage of the vehicle not to exceed $300 less the amount bid at auction, and for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, the deficiency claim is $1,000.

Summary:  The last registered owner of record is presumed liable for the abandonment of a vehicle which has been impounded unless the owner has filed a seller's report or vehicle theft report.  If an unauthorized vehicle which has been impounded is unredeemed, then the last registered owner is guilty of a traffic infraction.

A person must make restitution to the tow truck operator for services rendered prior to the traffic infraction being satisfied.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  92 5

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

House  96 1 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993